Apparatus for delivering materials.



A. E. NORRIS. APPARATUS FOR DELIVERINGMATERIALS.

APPIAIOATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908. 961,732. Patented June 14,1910.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

Patented June 14, 1910.

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'AMJREW a. GRAHAM w PNOTO LITNDGRAFMERS A. E. NORRIS.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

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A. E. NORRIS.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1, 1908.

961.33% Patented June 14,1910.

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A. E. NORRIS.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

' 961,732.; Patented June 14,1910.

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APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

961,732.. A Patented June 14,1910.

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A. E. NORRIS. APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJI, 1908.

Patented June 14,1910.

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APPARATUQ FOR DELIVERING MATERIALS.

APPLIQATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

Patefited June 14,5910.

ALMON E. NORRIS, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MATERIALS.

Application filed August 1, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALMoN E. NoRRIs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for DeliveringMaterials, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

My invention relates in general to loading apparatus and moreparticularly, though not exclusively, to apparatus for automaticallyloading material on moving cars or other conveyances.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,which for purposes of illustration, show specific embodiments thereof,while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section showinga feed controlling mechanism embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2is a detail showing the feeding gate in a position of discharge;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical view of Fig. 1, partly in section andpartly in elevation; Fig. l is a front elevation on an enlarged scale ofthe engine for the feeding gate shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same partly insection; Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the position of the valvecontrolling links in a different position from that shown in Fig. 3;Fig. 8 is a plan view,

' partly in section, showing a modified form of gate controlling motorin which electricity is employed as a motive power; Fig. 9 is a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 10 is a front elevation; Fig. 11 is asection taken through the countershaft of the gate motor shown in Figs.7 to 9 inclusive; Fig. 12 is a detail of the controlling valve employedin connection with the electric gate motor; and Fig. 13 is a frontelevation showing the arrangement of a plurality of loadinginstallations of the character described.

Referring to the drawings and to the particular embodiment of myinvention there shown, there is disclosed a loading apparatus whichherein is specifically intended for automatically loading measuredquantities of material, such as coal or the like, into cars or othermoving conveyances, which are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 446,427.

caused to move past one or more loading installations. For this purposethere may be employed a single loading installation only, or a pluralityof such installations. In Fig. 13 I have shown for illustrative purposestwo such installations, each comprising primarily a hopper 1 having achute 2 leading therefrom, and a properly located dumping receptacle 3adapted to receive measured quantities of material from the chute underthe control of a moving feeding device 4 (Fig. 3), which latter controlsthe delivery of material from the chute to the dumper. The successivedumping devices are so arranged that the movement of a car, or likeconveyance, to a materials-receiving position beneath each one, actsautomatically to discharge the material therein into the car. Thepurpose in the particular installation described is to cause thedischarge of a load from each dumper into each car as the latter passesalong, each dumper, in turn, receiving one or more and, usually two orthree, discharges from the moving feeding device in the chute tocomplete its load between the passage of successive cars.

While the various features of my invention are more particularlydesigned to increase the efficiency and render the operation of such asystem more automatic in its nature, broadly considered they are notlimited to this particular system of loading or to the constructional orother details described, or to relative arrangement of parts.

Referring more particularly to the con structional details of thedescribed system, the loading apparatus hereinafter described issupported upon any suitable framework, herein shown as comprisingsuitable columns, such as 5 (Fig. 3), the latter bearing girders 6 andbeams 7 supporting the upper platform 8 on which is supported thehopper 1. A lower platform 9 is also sustained by suitable girders 10secured to the columns 5.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, thehopper 1 is mounted on the platform 8 and has the chute 2 for deliveringmaterial to the dumping receptacle 3, the latter supported on theplatform 9. The delivery of material from the chute to the dumper iscontrolled by a moving feeding device which is caused to deliverintermittent quantities of material to the dumper and preferably inpredetermined measured amounts. Vhile such feeding device may beotherwise constructed and lofilled with material gravitating from thecated, in the present instance it is arranged near the bottom of thechute and consists of an oscillating measuring gate or feeder,comprising transverse walls 11 and 12 extending completely across thechute, but arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, at an obtuse angle toeach other. These are carried by a framework secured to the gate shaft13, the latter adapted to oscillate in bearings 14 depending from theunder side of the chute, and, also (Fig. 1) in a bracket 15 dependingfrom the framework. The feeding gate 4 has also the rearwardly extendingframe members 16 (Figs. 2 and 3) to which is secured at one end thecurved wall 17 also extending completely across the chute, the oppositeend of said wall being joined to the end of the gate measuring wall 12.The gate 4 in its feeding movement is caused to oscillate from amaterials-receiving position, in which all delivery from the chute iscut off, to a discharging position (represented in full line in Fig. 2)wherein the measured discharge of the gate is delivered into the dumper.

In Fig. 3 the gate is represented as having reached a position justshort of its full receiving position, the measuring wall 11, however,shutting off all delivery from the chute. In the subsequently attainedfull receiving position (which is represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2)the pocket formed between the measuring walls 11 and 12 is completelyhopper. The gate being then moved to the other extreme shown in fulllines in Fig. 2, the material contained in the pocket between thewalls11 and 12 is completely discharged, thecurved wall 17 during dischargecutting off further movement of material in the chute as the gate movestoward its discharging position. As the gate oscillates back and forthin the chute, therefore, it receives successive measured charges ofmaterial and delivers them to the underlying dumper.

For the complete automatic control of the apparatus it is desirable tocontrol the oscillating movement of the gate so that, while continuingso long as the normal operation of the apparatus continues, suchmovement can be automatically interrupted when the normal operation ofthe apparatus is interrupted, as by the exhaustlon of the supply in thehopper, or the failure of the dumping receptacle to discharge itsmaterial for any reason, such as the absence of a suitable receiving caror conveyance beneath the same. WVhile such control may be efiected byunclutching the gate from its driving motor or other source of drivingpower, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive I have provideda driving motor, herein a steam engine for oscillating the gate andcontrolling means for stopping not only the gate but also the engineitself under certain predetermined conditions.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 the gate engine, designatedat 18, 1s shown as mounted upon the platform 8 and con-' suitable typeof construction and employing any desired form of motive power, butherein I have shown a steam engine mounted (Figs. 4 and 5) upon asuitable framework 23 having twin cylinders 24, both acting to turn theengine crank shaft 25. In order to reduce the speed and impart arelatively slow oscillating movement to the-gate, speed reductiongearing is provided between the crank shaft 25 and the main drive shaft22. This may be of any suitable construction, but herein there isprovided upon the crank shaft a spur gear 26 meshing with the large spurgear 27 ,the latter'mounted to turn loosely upon the drive shaft 22.Further speed reduction is obtained by means of planetary gearingbetween the large gear 27 and the drive shaft 22. This comprises adriving pinion 28 keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the hub of thegear 27 and meshing with the teeth of one or more pinions 29 gournaledupon studs 30, the latter fixedly secured to a spider 31 keyed to thedrive shaft 22. The pinions 29 also engage with the internal teeth of afixed gear member 32 which is bolted to the frame, so that as the gear27 and its attached pinion 28 are turned in one direction the pinions 29are turned thereby and caused to carry the spider 31' about in the samedirection of rotation, thereby turning at a relatively low rate of speedtion, the latter, when elevated, acting to connect said supply pipe 34with the steam pipe 37 (Fig. 4), and starting or continuing theoperation of the engine. WVhen the valve is depressed (as shown in Fig.4) it acts to shut off the supply of steamto the supply pipe 34 and stopthe operation of the engine. Plpes 38 are employed to carry ofi theexhaust from the engine.

Having described the mechanism for driving or rotating the crank disk 21and the feeding gate 4, the mechanism for automatically starting andstopping the gate will now be described. In stopping the gate it isdesirable to stop it at some predetermined position and this usually, issome position approximating the full receiving position of the gate sothat, when subsequently started, it will be in a position suitable forimmediately commencing the delivery of material Without the loss oftime. In order that the engine may be stopped at such a predeterminedposition, I have provided a device insuring the movement of the gate tosuch a position and its stoppage thereat under certain conditions, whichwill be more fully referred to. For this purpose there is pivoted to abracket on the engine frame 23 a bell-crank cam lever 39 weighted at itsouter or upper end and oscillating in a plane adjacent and parallel tothe face of the crank disk 21 so as to coast with a pin 40 fixed at adefinite position thereon.

Referring more in detail to the present embodiment, the longer arm ofthe lever (Figs. 4 and 5) is shown more or less undulating in shape andis provided (Fig. 5) with a back flange 41 extending its entire length,and with a shorter front flange 42 extending a portion only of itslength. This arm of the lever widens at its outer end and the flangesfollow the contour of the widened portion, so that a mouth 43 ispresented to receive the pin 40in the face of the crank disk. The pin isprovided with a roll 44 which, after entering the mouth 43, bears on theinner side of the flange 41, moving the long arm of the lever upward androcking the shorter arm 45 of the bell-crank lever downwardly. In Fig. 5the pin is shown in" a position drawing the longer armof the lever downto a maximum degree. Continned rotation of the disk from the positionshown in Fig. 5 and in the direction of the arrow, will cause the pin 40to leave the path defined by the flange 41 at the exit 46, the lever 39being allowed thereby to fall back to its normal position, raising theshort end of the bell crank 45. Thus the lever 39 will be periodicallymoved at predetermined intervals by the intermittent engagement of thepin 40 therewith, this act ing to move the valve, as hereinafterdescribed.

Connections lead from the short end 45 of the bell-crank lever to thethrottle valve 36 as follows: the lever 45 has connected thereto theshort link 47, the latter jointed at 48 to the outer end of the maincontrolling link 49. The link 49 has a jointed connec tion at 50 to theupright valve stem 51, which latter is connected to the throttle valve36 and mounted for a limited sliding movement as the link 49 is moved upor down. The opposite end of the link 49 may also be moved up or down,and for this purpose is jointed at 52 to the mid-portion of a secondlink 53, to which latter at one end is connected the link-actuating rod54, and at the other end to the link-actuating rod 55.

The described mechanism for controlling the valve constitutes a floatinglinkage and requires for the closure of the valve and the stoppage ofthe engine the depression, not only of the end 48 of the link 49, due tothe approach of the feeding gate to its initial position, but also thecoincident depression of the opposite endv 52 of the link, due to thedepression either of the actuating rod 54 or the actuating rod 55, orboth. In the specific construction illustrated the extent of movement ofthe end of the bell-crank lever 45 as it rises and falls, due to thesuccessive rotation of the crank disk, is about the same as the extentof movement of the actuating rod 55 or the actuating rod 54. Since therods 54 and 55, however, act through the link 53, the depression ofeither one inclividually produces only half the movement at the valveproduced by the bell-crank lever 45.

Starting with both actuating rods 54 and 55 elevated and the lever 45also elevated, the links lie as represented in full line in Fig. 7 andthe construction of the valve is such that movement of the link 49, dueto the depression of either or both the rods 54 and 55, is insufficientto close the valve, but with the depression of either or both the rods54 and 55, coincident with the depression of the link at the end 48, dueto the movement of thebell-orank lever 4539, the valve will move to aclosed position and stop the engine. There is, therefore, provided aconjoint control over the gate and the gate engine responsive, not onlyto the position of the gate, but to other conditions, which hereinrepresent some departure from the normal and continuous operation of theapparatus.

Various conditions may be selected to exercise control over the gateengine. Herein I have provided detector means in the hopper responsiveto the presence or absence of material to be fed such that, when thehopper supply falls below the amount necessary again to refill thedumper, one of the linkactuating rods 54 or 55 is automaticallydepressed so that, when the gate again approaches its initial position,the engine will be stopped unless, meanwhile, the hopper has again beenrefilled. This may be constructed in various Ways, but herein I haveprovided approximately at the juncture of the hopper and the chute, orwherever else convenient, a detector plate 56, which tends to movetoward the interior of the chute by means of a weight 57 and a movablebellcrank lever 58, the latter secured to the plate shaft 59. When thematerial fills the chute it presses the plate against the top wallthereof (as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 3), but when thematerial becomes exhausted from the hopper or the upper part of thechute the plate, being no longer pressed up by the material, allows theweight to drop down (see full lines, Fig. 3), and, acting throughsuitable connections, depresses the actuating rod 54. To cause thisactuation the weighted bell-crank lever 58 is connected, through the rod60, with the lever 61 on the rock shaft 62, the latter extending(Fig. 1) beyond the hopper where it is connected to a lever 63. Thelatter, in turn, is connected to a link 64 jointed to the weighted lever65, the latter secured to the rock shaft 66 mounted at the rear of theengine frame. The rock shaft 66 in turn is secured to a lever arm 67,the latter ointed to the lower end of the link-actuating rod 54:.Through these connections the position of the detecting plate 56, z. 6.,whether depending or pressed against the upper wall of the chute,determines the position of the actuating rod 54. So long as the plate ispressed against the top of the chute, indicating an ample supply ofmaterial, the actuating rod remains elevated. When, as represented' inthe drawings, the plate drops down, due to the exhaustion of material,the actuating rod is dropped down and the valve stem 51 is depressed sothat, when the pin 40 on the crank disk next engages the cam lever, theclosure of the valve will be effected Means for varying thesensitiveness of the plate may be employed, such, for example, as theadjustable weight 68 adjustably supported on the lever 65.

During the operation of the apparatus the underlying dumping receptacle,when filled with a predetermined quantity of material, is allowed totip, and, when subsequently actuated by the approach of a car beneaththe same to a receiving position, is caused to discharge its materialthereinto and immediately restore itself to its initial position. In thepreferred operation of the apparatus the movements are preferably sotimed that the cars move continuously along beneath the receptacles,each car taking a portion of its load from each dumping receptacle, andsufiicient time elapsing between the advent of successive cars to permitthe dumping receptacle to be filled by one or more oscillations of thefeeding gate, as may be required to discharge thereinto thepredetermined quantity. If, however, the discharge of the dumpingreceptacle is delayed for any reason, as, for example, by delay inbringing up the next car, or if its restoration to its initial positionis retarded, it becomes desirable meanwhile to stop the feeding actionof the feeding gate. In the present instance, therefore, I have soconstructed the dumping receptacle that, by connection therefrom to thelink-actuating rod 55 at the engine, until the filled dumping receptacleis discharged and restored to its receiving position, no more materialcan be fed through the feeding gate, although the latter before stoppagewill continue its movement approximately to its full receiving positionready to renew the feed as soon as the dumper has been discharged andrestored to its initial position. With this end in view the dumpingreceptacle (Figs. 1 and 3) comprehends an oscillating dumper-supportingframe 69 which is centrally trunnioned at 70 to the frame members 71,the latter sustained by the lower platform 9. One end of the oscillatingframe supports the dumper 3,.

consisting of a bin-like inclosure having 1m-.

perforate sides, back and bottom, but an open top to receive thematerial from the chute. The front or mouth of the dumper is closed by ahood separate from the dumper and fixedly secured to theframe 69. Thishood incloses the mouth of the dumper and retains the loading materialtherein when the dumper is in its normal position. When the dumperreceives a predeterminate quantity of'material from the chute throughone or more discharges of the feeding gate, the oscillating frame 69,together with the dufnper 3 and the hood 75, together tip downward aboutthe trunnions 70, lifting the counterweight without change of positionrelatively to each other.

For the subsequent release of the dumper 3 to discharge its material,there is pivoted (Figs. 1 and 3) on the under side of the oscillatingframe 69 a pair of hook-shaped lating frame and is provided with adepending arm 79 fixed thereon. The lower end of the arm extends betweena pair of parallel strips or bars 80, which latter are swinginglysupported at one end to a link 81 and at the opposite end to a link 82.In order to permit the latches 76 to be tripped automatically the stripsare provided with a depending bar 83 rigidly attached thereto, which baris adapted to be engaged by a suitably located lug or obstruction 84carried by a passing car 85. The movement of the car to a position whereitcan suitably receive the material from the dumper causes the lug 84 tostrike the bar 83, swing the strips forward on their supporting lugs,and cause the latch arm 79 to be struck by a pin 86 connecting the twostrips 80. This permits the dumper to tip and its open mouth beingthereby depressed below the closing hood it delivers its contents to thecar below. The dumper is counterbalanced (Fig. 1) by a weight 87 whichtends to re store it to its normal position as soon as its contents aredischarged, and, for limiting the pivotal or discharge movement thereofchains 88 are provided having each a spring 89, for relieving the jerkor strain interposed between it and the point of its attachment to thedumper. Immediately on its restoration the latches 76 snap in under theforward end of the dumper and retain it in its normal posit-ion until itis tripped by the next car.

Referring now to the connections for controlling the feeding gate andthe gate-operating engine through the condition or movements of thedumper, the frame 69 is connected to the other link actuating rod 55 atthe engine by means of the vertical rod 90 pivotally attached at thehood end of the frame 69, and connected at its upper end (Fig. 3) to thelever arm 91, the latter connected, through the rock shaft 92, with asecond arm 93, which arm is directly connected to the link-actuating rod55.

When the oscillating frame 69 is in its normal position represented inFig. 1 the actuating rod 55 is held elevated, as in the position shownin Fig. 7. When, however, the dumper receives its intended load and theoscillating frame is thereby caused to tilt, the vertical rod 90 isdrawn down and this, in turn, through the described connections drawsdown the link-actuating rod 55 to the position represented in dottedlines in Fig. 7. This has no efi'ect on the operation of the engineuntil the gate-connecting rod 20 approaches the dead point representedas in Fig. 3, whereupon, if the oscillating frame still remains tilted,the cam lever will be moved to press the valve link 49 still farther andclose the throttle valve.

It will be seen thatthe links 49 and 53, with theirattachedconnect-ions, form a floating linkage mechanism for controllingthe engine, through the valve 36, the fulcruming points of both linksbeing movable. This permits the engine to be controlled in response tothe interruptions in the normal operation of the loading apparatus, asdescribed, the arrangement herein being such that, if either or bothends of the link 53 are lowered, due to the exhausting of material inthe hopper or the failure of the dumper to discharge and return to itsinitial position, the subsequent depression of the cam lever 39-45 willstop the engine.

While the pin 40 on the crank disk might be located at different angularpositions on the disk and thereby stop the gate at any desiredpredetermined position, preferably it is located as shown and in such aposition that it will stop the engine with the connecting rod 20 justshort of the dead point, or short of its highest elevation. It,therefore, still leaves, after subsequent starting, a slight movementbefore the delivery of materials can commence. This avoids thepossibility of delivering materials to the dumper before the latter hasbeen restored to its normal position and locked by the latches 76, whichrestoration may require a slightly longer time interval than the morerapid restoration of the oscillating frame 69, upon which depends thestarting of the engine.

Briefly, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: The supply in thehopper l is replenished from time to time by any usual or suitableloading apparatus, not shown. Assuming that the engine is started up toturn the gate and deliver coal from the chute into the dumper, thedetector plate 56 will then be pressed up against the top wall of thechute, showing the full condition of the hopper, and the left-handlink-actuating rod 54 will be elevated, as represented in Fig. 7. Thedumper and oscillating frame being also in the normal position shown inFig. 1, the righthand link-actuating rod 55 will also be elevated, asrepresented in Fig. 7, and, with steam admitted to the supply pipe 37,the engine will start the gate in motion. At the beginning of theoscillation of the gate, the pin 40 on the crank disk soon leaves theexit 46 on. the cam lever 39 and the cam lever drops lifting the end 48of the valve actuating link 49 and insuring the maintenance of theengine operation until the crank disk has turned again to the posi tionshown in Figs. 3 and 5. Meanwhile, the valve is held open irrespectiveof the linkactuating rods 55 and 54. The engine having started up, thegate swings down until the connecting rod 20 is beyond the dead point,when it delivers its measured discharge of material to the dumper 3 andthen lifts again. While the dumper may act to discharge on a singleoscillation of the feeding gate only, normally the dumper is ar rangedto be filled through two or three oscillations of the gate. When filled,the oscillating dumper frame 69 tilts down and throws down thelink-actuating rod 55. The obstruction 84 on the next car 85 thenengages the bar 83 and releases the dumper catches 76, tilting thedumper and discharging the contents into the car. With its contentsdischarged the dumper 3 is restored to its normal position by thetilting frame 69, the latter swinging back to a horizontal positionunder the influence of the counterweights 72, thus lifting the verticalrod and the link-actuating rod 55. If this happens before the gatefinishes its full revolution, as will ordinarily be the case, the gatemovement will be continued to deliver a sec- 0nd charging to the dumper.If the restoration of the dumper, however, is delayed for any reason, sothat, when the gate returnsto its stopping position, the dumper is stilltipped and, hence, the link-actuating rod 55 In order to prevent thetipping of the dumper 3 when empty, the relative positions of the strips80, the pin 86 and the depending latch arm 79 are preferably such that,while with the oscillating frame tilted down, the movement of the stripswhen engaged by the obstruction 84 readily trips the latch, suchtripping cannot be effected when the frame is in its normal orhorizontal position, as represented in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the normal operation of this apparatus contemplatesthe restoration ofthe dumper to a materials-receiving position and alsocontemplates the mainte nance of a supply in the hopper suflicient tofill the gate. During such normal operation the gate continues to beoscillated, delivering successive charges to the dumper which, whenfilled, immediately discharges the same and is self-restored to itsreceiving position. Such continuous operation of the gate is interruptedonly by an interruption in the normal operation of the apparatus, as forexample, by failure of the dumper to return before the return of thegate or exhaustion of the hopper supply sufficient to permit thedropping of the detector plate.

While, for many purposes, I have pre ferred for the control of the gateto start and stop the gate operating motor in preference to cutting offpower from themotor to the gate, since this results in greater economyand efiiciency of operation, the latter method may be employed and thecontrol of the gate effected by clutching or unclutching the drivingmotor from the gateoperating mechanism.

In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive I have shown a modified form of my inventionwherein such control is effected, the conjoint control over the ate,however, being provided by a pressure Enid controlling valve and througha floating linkage mechanism of substantially the same construction asthat already described. It will therefore be necessary to describe themotor and the driving mechanism only, it being understood that theconstruction of this motor and driving mechanism, all as shown in Figs.9 to 11, is equally applicable with the steam engine to the loadingapparatus previously described.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 8 to 11, thegate-operating mechanism there described is mounted upon a frame'94carrying at one end the electric" driving motor 95 of any suitableconstruotion or type. The motor shaft is provided with a driving pinion96 meshing with a large spur gear 97, the latter loosely mounted forrotation upon the clutch shaft 98, but adapted to be clutched to orunclutched from the same by clutch mechanism hereinafter described.Fixedly secured to the clutch shaft 98 is the driving pinion 99, thelatter, acting, through the driving gear 27 and connected planetarygearing, to drive the crank disk 21, all of these parts beingofsubstantially the same construction as those previously described inconnection with the steam gate engine in Figs. 4 to 6 and being given,therefore, similar and corresponding reference numerals without furtherdescription. There is also employed in conjunction with the crank disk21 and actuating pin 40 (Fig. 9), bell-crank lever 3945 and-linkageconnection, a pressure fluid controlling valve 100, the said linkage andother connections to the valve being substantially the same aspreviously described in connection with the steam gate engine. There isalso provided a similar system of controlling links connected to thelink-actuating rods 5 k and 55, as already described, all combining toeffect a conjoint control over the pressure-c'ontrolling' valve 100 inthe same fashion as has been previously described.

To clutch the motor to or unclutch the same from the motor shaft,through the control of the valve 100, the clutch shaft is constructed asfollows: For imparting driving movement from the gear 97 to the clutchshaft the gear has bolted thereto an annulongitudinally therein toclutch or unclutch the gear 97 to actuate the clutch shaft. At theopposite end of the clutch shaft the clutch actuating rod 106 is securedto an appropriate piston 107 slidably mounted within a cylinder 108carried at the end of the clutch shaft and havinga cylinder head 109bolted thereto, a pressure supply pipe 110 being provided to admitpressure fluid to the .cylinder and move the piston therein to apply theclutch, A stuffing box and gland 111 is provided between the cylinderhead 109 and the pressure pipe 110 to provide a tight joint and permitthe movement of the cylinder 108 with the shaft relatively to the pipe110. To release the clutch automatically, when the pressure is exhaustedfrom the clutch cylinder 108, there is provided a heavy coil spring 112acting against the piston 107 to move the same outwardly in the gylinderand separate the two clutch memers.

It is desirable that the movements of the gate should be quicklyresponsive to the movements of the valve and, when the valve is closed,that the movement of the gate should be promptly stopped. To prevent themomentum of the crank disk and the other connected parts from continuingthe movement of the gate for an interval after the clutch members havebeen released, 1 preferably provide some automatic positive stoppagedevice operative when the clutch is released, such, for example, as afriction brake. As one means of effecting this result, in theillustrated embodiment I have shown a brake device which is thrown intoengagement as the clutch is released. Such braking device comprises astationary friction cone 113 bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to astationary part of the frame, such as the yoke member 114C (Figs. 8 to11). The statlonary friction cone is mounted in operative relation to anannular member 115 bolted to the side of the clutch cone 103 and adaptedto engage with the stationary cone when the clutch is released.Accordingly, with the piston forced in one direction and into theposition shown in Fig. 11, the brake is released and the clutch engaged,as shown. lVith the pressure in the cylinder exhausted and the pistonforced in the opposite direction, the clutch is released andsimultaneously the brake members thrown into ongagement.

For the admission of pressure to or exhaust from the clutch cylinder,the clutch cylinder supply pipe 110 leads (Fig. 12) to the interior ofthe valve chamber 116 and there is also connected to the chamber, thepressure supply pipe 117 and the exhaust pipe 118. The valve 100 (shownin detail in Fig. 12) is connected to the valve stem 51 to be raised orlowered by the linkage, as previously described. In its depressedposition, as represented in Fig. 10, pressure is cut off from the clutchcylinder supply pipe and the latter is opened to the exhaust pipe 118.lVith the valve elevated, however, as represented in Fig. 12, pressureis admittedto the supply pipe and the clutch cylinder with the result ofmoving the piston therein to the position shown in Fig. 11. Any suitablesource of pressure supply may be provided for the clutch cylinder,although preferably in practice compressed air, supplied either from asource of stored pressure or from an auxiliary compressor, is preferablyemployed.

As represented in Fig. 13, a number of units, similar to those alreadydescribed, are preferably employed in practice, in order that the car orsuccession of cars may move continuously and, by the automaticarrangement above described, each receive a predetermined amount fromeach unit in turn, so that, when the car shall have passed under theentire battery of units, it may be completely filled. It will,therefore, be seen that I have provided a system of units each includinga gate or feeder for loading a continuously moving car, the entireoperation taking place automatically and each feeder always stopping, ifat all, in closed position.

While I have shown the starting and stopping valve for the feeding gatecontrolled by the conjoint action of the three controlling membersdescribed, one responsive to the position of the gate, another to thecondition of the dumper, and the other to the absence or presence ofsupply, the float-- ing linkage mechanism can readily be elaborated, aswill be obvious to those skilled in the art, to comprehend the controlthrough other and additional conditions which accompany the interruptionof the normal operation of the apparatus. On the other hand, if it isdesired to control the valve through two members alone instead of threeas, for example, the cam lever 394l5 and either one of thelink-actuating rods 54: or 55, the latter could then be directlyconnected to the end 52 of the valve link 49.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it willbe understood that the same is not limited tothe details of constructionor form or rela-' tive arrangement of parts, but that extensivemodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is;

1. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a hopper toreceive a supply of material, a chute leading therefrom, an oscillatingdumping receptacle to receive the material in measured quantities fromthe chute, an oscillating frame upon which the dumping receptacle ispivotally mounted, said frame being adapted to tip when the dumperreceives a predetermined supply of material, means controlled by aconveyance moving relatively to said dumper to .cause the discharge ofthe material into said conveyance, means automatically to return bothsaid frame and said dumper to their initial position on the discharge ofthe material to the conveyance, materials-detector means for said hopperresponsive to the absence or presence of material, a reciprocatingmeasuring gate for causing the delivery of measured quantities ofmaterial from the chute to the dumper, an engine for reciprocating saidgate having a crank disk and a connecting rod attachment tosaid gate, a

1 to be moved by said crank disk in a predetermined position of the gateto move said valve to stop said engine, a second link having itsmid-portion connected to the opposite end of said valve-actuating link,a connection between said detector means and one end of said second linkand adapted to be actuated by said detector means to move said valvetoward a closed position when the supply of materials fails in saidhopper, and a connection from the opposite slde of said second link tosaid oscillating frame and adapted to be actuated by the tilting of saidframe when said dumper is loaded to move said valve toward a closedposition, the said engine being stopped only when the gate arrives atthe said predetermined position coincidentally with the tilted conditionof the oscillating frame or the absence of material, 1

2. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a hopper toreceive a supply of material, a chute leading. therefrom, anoscillatingdumping receptacle to receive measured quantities of material from thechute, said receptacle having a tipping move-V ment when a predeterminedsupply of material is received, means controlled by a conveyance movingtoward the receptacle to cause the subsequent discharge of the materialinto said conveyance, means automatically to restore said receptacle toits initial position on the discharge of material to the conveyance, amovable feeding device for delivering measured quantities of materialfrom the chute to the dumper, a motor for moving said feeding device,and means following the delivery of a predetermined amount of materialto the dumping receptacle automatically to stop the motor.

3. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a hopper toreceive a supply of material, a chute leading therefrom, an oscillatingdumping receptacle to receive measured quantities of material from thechute, said receptacle having a tipping movement when a predeterminedsupply of material is received, means 'controlled by a conveyance movingtoward the receptacle subsequently to cause the dis- 1 charge of thematerial into said conveyance,

means automatically to restore said receptacle to its initial positionon the discharge of material to the conveyance, a movable feeding devicefor delivering measured quantities of material from the chute to thedumper, a motor for moving said feeding device, and means'following thedelivery of a predetermined quantity of material to the dumpingreceptacle to stop the feeding device always at a predeterminedposition.

4. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a hopper toreceive a supply of material, a chute leading therefrom, an oscillatingdumping receptacle to receive measured quantities of material from thechute, said receptacle havinga tipping movement when apredeterminedsupply' of material is received, means controlled by aconveyance moving toward the receptacle sub sequently to cause thedischarge of the mate rial into said conveyance, means automatically torestore said receptacle to its initial position on the discharge ofmaterial to the conveyance, a movable feeding device for deliveringmeasured quantities of material from the chute to the dumper, a motorfor moving said feeding device, and means for continuing the movement ofthe feeding device after the dumping receptacle has received apredetermined load, but for stopping it prior to further feeding ofmaterial if, meanwhile, the dumping receptacle has not been emptied.

5. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a hopper toreceive a supply of material, a chute leading therefrom, an oscillatingdumping receptacle to receive measured quantities of material from thechute, said receptacle having a tipping movement when a predeterminedsupply of material is received, means controlled by a conveyance movingtoward the receptacle subsequently to cause the discharge of thematerial into said conveyance, means automatically to restore saidreceptacle to its initial position on the discharge of material to theconveyance, a movable feeding device for delivering measured quantitiesof material from the chute to the dumper, a motor for moving saidfeeding device, detector means responsive to the absence or presence ofmaterial in the hopper, and means for stopping feeding movement of thefeeding device after failure of the supply in the hopper.

6. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination wit-h a hopper toreceive a supply of material, a chute leading therefrom, an oscillatingdumping receptacle to receive measured quantities of material from thechute, said receptacle having a tipping movement when a predeterminedsupply of material is received, means controlled by a conveyance movingtoward the receptacle subsequently to cause the discharge of thematerial into said conveyance, means automatically .to restore saidreceptacle to its initial position on the discharge of material to theconveyance, a movable feeding device for delivering measured quantitiesof material from the chute to the dumper, a motor for moving saidfeeding device, and means re-i 7. In an apparatus of the classdescribed, the combination with dumping means adapted automatically todischarge a predetermined load of material, means automatically torestore the dumping means to its initial position, a movable feedingdevice for delivering charges of material to said dumping means, andmeans for continuing the movement of said feeding device after dumpingmovement of the dumping means, but for stopping the same prior tofurther feeding movement, unless meanwhile the dumping means has beenrestored to its materials-re ceiving position.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with dumpingmeans adapted automatically to discharge a predetermined load, meansautomatically to restore said dumping means, a movable feeding devicefor delivering charges of material to said dumping means, and meansautomatically to stop said feeding device in a given predeterminedposition.

9. The combination with an automatic dumping device, of self-restoringmeans for said dumping device, a feeding device for feeding charges ofmaterial to said dumping device, a motor for operating said feedingdevice, and means for automatically starting and stopping said motor.

10. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of delivery means fordelivering material to said receptacle, a motor for actuating saiddelivery means, and means automatically to start and stop said motor.

11. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of delivery means fordelivering material to said receptacle, means for actuating saiddelivery means, means for discharging the contents of said receptacleinto a suitable conveyance, and means automatically to stop saiddelivery means at a given predetermined position.

12. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of delivery means fordelivering material to said receptacle, and fluid pressure means forautomatically controlling the operation of said delivery means.

13. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of delivery means fordelivering material to said receptacle, means automatically to cause thedischarge of material from said receptacle to a suitable conveyance, andfluid pressure means responsive to the condition of said receptacle forcontrolling the operation of said delivery means.

14. In an automatic loading apparatus,

the combination with a receptacle for receiving material from a supplythereof, of delivery means for delivering material to said receptacle,means automatically to cause the discharge of material from saidreceptacle to a suitable conveyance and fluid pressure means responsiveto the exhaustion of said supply for stopping the operation of saiddelivery means.

15. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of a movable feedingdevice for delivering measured quantities of material to saidreceptacle, starting and stopping means for said feeding device, acontrolling member for said starting and stopping means governed by theposition of said feeding device, and a second controlling member forsaid starting and stopping means governed by the condition of saidreceptacle, the stoppage of said feeding device requiring the conjointaction of said two controlling members.

16. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of a movablev feedingdevice for delivering measured quantities of material to saidreceptacle, starting and stopping means for said feeding device, acontrolling member for said starting and stopping means governed by theposition of said feeding device, and a second controlling memberresponsive to the presence or absence of supply, the stoppage of saidfeeding device requiring the conjoint action of said two controllingmembers.

17. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of a movable feedingdevice for delivering measured quantities of material to saidreceptacle, starting and stopping means for said feeding device, acontrolling member for said starting and stopping means governed by theposition of said feeding device, a second cont-rolling member responsiveto the absence or presence of supply, and a third controlling memberresponsive to the condition of said receptacle, the stoppage of saidfeeding device requiring the conjoint action of said first controllingmember and one of the remaining controlling members.

18. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of feeding means fordelivering material to said receptacle, starting and stopping means forsaid feeding means, and a link for controlling said starting andstopping means, said link having movable fulcra, one of which iscontrolled by the position of the feeding means and the other by thecondition of said receptacle.

19. In an automatic loading apparatus,

the combination with a receptacle for receiving material from a supplythereof, of feeding means for delivering material to said receptacle,starting and stopping means'for said feeding means, and a link forcontrolling said starting and stopping means, said link having movablefulcra, one of which is controlled by the position of the feeding meansand the other by the absence or pres ence of material.

20. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with areceptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of feeding means fordelivering material to said receptacle, a valve for controlling theoperation of said feeding means, a valve-controlling member connected tosaid feeding means, and a second valve-controlling member connected tosaid receptacle to feed the controlling movement of said valve requiringthe conjoint action of said two valvecontrolling members.

21. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of feeding means fordelivering material to said receptacle, a motor for actuating saidfeeding means, means for stopping the operation of said feeding means bysaid motor, and braking means adapted to be applied simultaneously withsaid stopping means to prevent further movement of said feeding means. I

22. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a receptaclefor receiving material from a supply thereof, of feeding means fordelivering material to said receptacle, means for automatically startingand stopping the operation of said feeding means, and braking meansacting automatically and cooperatively on the actuation of said startingand stopping means to prevent further movement of said feeding means.

28. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receptacle forreceiving material from a supply thereof, of feeding means fordelivering material to said receptacle, a crank disk and connecting rodfor moving said feeding means, means automatically to stop the movementof said crank disk, and

braking means adapted to be automatically applied to prevent furthermovement of said crank disk.

24:- In an automatic loading system, a plurality of loading units pastwhich a moving car or other conveyance is adapted to pass and receivefrom each a measured quantity of material, each unit comprising ahopper, a tilting dumping receptacle adapted to receive material fromthe hopper, a feeding device for delivering material from the hopper tothe dumping receptacle, means automatically to discharge said receptacleand restore it to its receiving position, and means for permittingmovement of the feeding deceptacle, but for stopping the same prior tofurther delivery, unless meanwhile the dumping receptacle has beenrestored to its receiving position.

25. An automatic loading apparatus comprising a hopper, an oscillatingdumper to receive the material from the hopper, movable feeding means todeliver successive charges of material from the hopper to the dumper,and means automatically to stop the movement of the feeding means, themovement thereof being interrupted only by the interruption in thenormal operation of the apparatus. 1

26. An automatic loading apparatus comprising a hopper, an oscillatingdumper to receive material from the hopper, and movable feeding means todeliver successive charges of material from the hopper to the dumper,the movement of said means continuing during the normal operation of theapparatus.

vice after dumping movement ofsaid re- 27. An automatic loadingapparatus comautomatically governing the delivery of material from saidhopper to the dumper.

28. In an apparatus of the class described, a dumper having a dumpingmovement, means for feeding material thereto, and fluidpressurecontrolling means for stopping said feeding means when therestoration of the dumper is delayed.

29. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, ahopper, power driven feeding means, and automatic means for stoppingsaid feeding means on the exhaustion of material from said hopper. Y

30. An apparatus of the class described comprising a hopper, movablefeed delivery means, and means for automatically stopping said feedingmeans in a predetermined position on the exhaustion of material fromsaid hopper. V

31. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a'hopper, a dumper, feeding means, a cam lever, a floating linkagemechanism connected to said dumper and said cam lever, and means foroperating said feeding means and said lever.

32. An automatic loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper,a dumper adapted to receive material therefrom, means for feedingmeasured quantities of material from said hopper, detector means forsaid hopper, and means responsive to the said detector means and thecondition of said dumper, for controlling the said feeding means.

33. An automatic loading apparatus comprising a dumping receptacle,feeding means for feeding material thereto from a suitable source ofsupply, starting and stopping means for said feeding means, a crank diskand connecting rod adapted to drive said driving means, a leverconnected to said starting and stopping means, and means carried by saidcrank disk to move said lever.

34. An automatic loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a dumper,an oscillating measuring gate adapted to deliver material to said dumperfrom a suitable source of supply, driving mechanism for said gate, avalve for controlling the operation thereof, a floating linkagemechanism connected to said valve and composed of two pivotallyconnected members, one of said members being connected to the dumper andthe other to an actuating lever, and means carried by said drivingmechanism for moving said actuating lever at a predetermined position ofthe gate.

35. An automatic loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper,feeding means for delivering material from the hopper, means foroscillating said feeding means to effect the feed, and means forautomatically stopping said feeding means in a materials-receivingposition.

36. An automatic loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a hopper,feeding means, a dumper, a weighted lever for controlling the operationof said feeding means, a crank disk connected with said feeding meansand a member on said disk for operating said lever at a predeterminedtime.

37. An automatic loading apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor,feeding means driven by said motor, a hopper, a dumper to which materialis supplied by said feeding means to said hopper, and speed reductiongearing interposed between said feeding means and said motor.

38. In an automatic loading apparatus, the combination with a hopper, adumper, a measuring gate for feeding material from the hopper to thedumper, a motor for moving said gate, a clutch between the motor and thegate, and means for automatically disengaging said clutch when said gateis at a predetermined position.

39. An automatic loading apparatus comprising a hopper, a feeding gate,a driving motor, a clutch shaft interposed between said motor and saidgate, a fluid-pressure-actuated clutch mounted on said shaft andconsisting of an external and internal and an intermediate frictionmember, the latter in one position acting as a driving member and inanother as a brake member for stopping the movement of said gate.

40. An automatic loading apparatus comprising, in combination, receivingmeans, oscillating delivery means for delivering material to saidreceiving means, detector means responsive to the presence or absence ofa suitable supply, and means governed by said delivery means and saiddetector means for arresting movement of said oscillating means.

41. In an automatic loading apparatus the combination with the deliverydevice 11, of the dumper 3, the controlling connection 90 and the primemover 18.

42. In an automatic loading apparatus the combination with the dumper 3and the prime mover 18.

43. In an automatic loading apparatus the combination with the deliverydevice 11, the prime mover 18, the connection 20, the valve 36, and theconnections 47 54, and 55.

44. In an automatic loading apparatus the combination with the feeder11, prime mover 18, and valve 36.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALMON E. NORRIS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS B. BOOTH, EVERETT S. EMERY.

